Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-14
CLOUDS OF WILD GEESE.
Where the sky is Overcast with Birds IL
Their Southwark Flight.


From Harrisburg ID. IT, Dispatch.
For the information and perhaps benefit
Of sportsmen I will give very faint de-
scription OF what we are daily witnessing
Of the grand armies Of the strong winged
birds whose name heads this letter. OF
the variety known further south es Wild
geese, the "honkers," as they are called
from their peculiar cry when on the
wing, we see large numbers. a great
many of these nest and breed about the
small lakes in our neighbOrhCOd,
and people often take the eggs
and hatch them under domestic
birds, either geese or hens. Besides these
there are the brant, q smaller gray goose,
aud.the beautiful snowy geese. OF these
last there seems to be no limit to number.
The air is almost constantly filed with
their notes, and one can scarcely look up
at the sky-Which is wonderfully wide
from these NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. seeing
tiocks of these magnificent birds wheel
ing across it in one direction or another.
No mathematics yet invented could en-
umerate the hosts that have SO far APP
peared. instantaneous photography is
the only method by which any
truthful representation can be given OF
their hosts. We rode out, day or two
since, to the lake (Wamhuska, sometimes
called Stump lake.. The day was one OF
the mellow, golden, bracing, thoroughly
enjoyable days that October some times
brings even to you poor dwellers amid
the mists and dGmps Of Indians, but to US
she is lavish Of such treasures during her
entire reign. All the days and the days
before-one cannot tell for how long
iocks on hocks OF geese, in countless
numbers, were sailing overhead in ranks
aud clusters Of ranks-some dark and
some snowy white, with black-tipped
wings. They are c0ngregating about our
beautiful lake, probably making prelimi-
nary arrangements for their southern
flight. The whole blue vault, which
showed no cloud, was lined in every
direction by ranks CT snowy birds. The
afternoon sun shone full upon their bril-
liant plumage, tinging it golden color,
than which 10 bird of paradise could be
more dazzling; and the vast number on
wing OF shining, gold-hued hosts made
one of the finest sights that one can be
hold. l never before saw anything to
equal il. When We came in full view OF
the lake, where there are several miles Of
water ia sight, there was another re-
markable eurprise for Us. Ii the canopy
above US was full Of flying birds, TIE
surface Of that long stretch Of glistening
water WIS . hundred times more 30
| Along the further shore and far out from
land there were thousands Of geese float
ing, SO close together that one saw nc
! glimmer OF water between.
Midway between the shores islands o!
geese 1)ated, but appeared to observers
on the high banks like still, insnimste
| earth covered with fresh fall of snow
Sportsmen were crouchipg here and
there behind clumps of bushes, and every
row and then a rife shot echoed along the
woodland, but what were few sports
men among such multitudes of birds?
My neighbor, the postmaster, brought
in half 8 dozen geese, the result
OF two or three odd half hours
sport. Another reigbbor took twelve
the same day. One man shot fourteen
within thirty minutes. The flesh of these
birds is excellent, and in this climate car
De kept long time. A party of sports
men are here now from Florida, and will
spend week or more.
Two gentlemen from Boston spent q
"ceh ASAS cAOotlO5 anu OAsSpu o 1oi sc
number Of ducks and several geese. They
left for home about two weeks ago. Had
they remained till now their sport would,
perhaps, have been more satisfactory, IS
the larger birds are far more numerous al
this time than month earlier. As il
was, however, these Boston men were sc
well pleased with their trip and with the
opportunities for good shooting that
they left their canoe here for next years